Kalmykia, Buddhist republic in Southern Russia
Kalmykia is a republic in southern Russia stretching between the Caspian Sea and the Volga River. The region includes the Yergeni hills in the center, expansive salt lake landscapes in the north, and flat steppe areas that transition into the coastal plain.
The Kalmyk population arrived in the 17th century from Central Asia and settled in this area to find new grazing lands for their herds. Later resettlements in the 20th century brought dramatic changes to the community before a return to the region occurred.
Visitors can experience Buddhist temples with colorful prayer flags and traditional music performances featuring the dombra, a two-stringed steppe instrument. The local community also maintains a strong chess tradition, and yurts occasionally appear in the landscape as reminders of nomadic roots.
The best visiting period is spring or fall when temperatures are moderate and the steppe shows its different colors. Visitors should prepare for wide distances between locations and bring enough drinking water, as infrastructure in rural areas remains limited.
This region remains the only place in Europe where Buddhism is the predominant faith, with monasteries and stupas rising from the flat landscape. Numerous ancient burial mounds from various eras stand above the steppe and serve as silent witnesses to long-vanished cultures.
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